Chicago at Chicago (06/27/2008)

The Cubbies are a brutal road team, but does this really count as a road game? Players will be sleeping in their own beds, relaxing with family and enjoying all the comforts of home – save for the ivy walls of Wrigley Field. Considering the Cubs swept the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field last season, home-field advantage probably doesn’t count for much in this crosstown series.

You’ve also got to love Ryan Dempster right now as he’s hotter than he has been at any point in his career and has pitched the Cubs to 12 wins and just four losses this season. Jose Contreras, on the other hand, is battling through a three-game losing streak.

Dempster also improved to 9-0 at home, but has yet to win on the road where he has gone 0-2 with a 2.48 ERA in six appearances.

The Cubs could be further short-handed as they head to the South Side. Reliever Scott Eyre left Thursday's 11-4 loss to Baltimore with a left groin strain, and outfielder Kosuke Fukudome missed a second straight game with tightness in his left calf.

While Fukudome could be back in the lineup this weekend, according to the team's official Web site, the Cubs are still without outfielders Alfonso Soriano (broken left ring finger) and Reed Johnson (lower back spasms).

"The problems we have is that we're all banged up," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said.

• Cubs are 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in Chicago.
• Cubs are 6-0 in the last 6 meetings.
• Under is 7-1 in the last 8 meetings in Chicago.
• Under is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.
• White Sox are 0-4 in Contreras' last 4 starts vs. Cubs.